Hooking (ice hockey)

Hooking is a penalty in ice hockey and ringette. This article deals chiefly with ice hockey.

The National Hockey League defines it in Rule 55 as "the act of using the stick in a manner that enables a player or goalkeeper to restrain an opponent."

Hooking in the rules

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The NHL covers hooking in Rule 55, which defines it as "the act of using the stick in a manner that enables a player or goalkeeper to restrain an opponent." It goes on to specify that "when a player is checking another in such a way that there is only stick-to-stick contact, such action is not to be penalized as hooking." The NHL groups hooking with other "Restraining fouls" such as holding, interference and tripping.[1]

The IIHF covers hooking in Rule 533, defining a player guilty of hooking as one "who impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by hooking him with the stick."[2]

Both codes allow for hooking to be penalized with either a minor or major penalty; the latter is imposed for injuring an opponent by hooking, and carries with it an automatic game misconduct.

Emphasis in NHL

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Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the NHL made "Zero tolerance on Interference, Hooking and Holding/Obstruction" its top priority for game officials.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Rule 55". NHL Rulebook. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  2. ^ "Section 5" (PDF). IIHF Rulebook. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  3. ^ "Collective Bargaining Agreement FAQ". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 6, 2010.